In an effort to give the Indians a fighting chance on the final day of the team’s disappointing six-game road trip, the club turned to its best starting pitcher of the to date this season in Zach McAllister.

Starting on two days short rest Wednesday in the place of struggling Carlos Carrasco (who’d been banished to the bullpen), even McAllister’s unselfish shot at halting the team’s mounting losing streak wasn’t enough to drag the Indians out of their all-around slump.

If Jason Kipnis’ ability to joke about his low batting average was any indication after the Indians 6-4 loss to the host Angels late Tuesday night, perhaps the Indians won’t have to play without their spark plug of a second baseman very long.

Either that, or Kipnis has been around the Tribe (11-16) long enough to know that when it rains, it pours and sometimes the best one can do is to laugh in order to keep from crying.

For the second consecutive night Joe Smith found himself with an opportunity to thumb his nose at his former team.

After the Indians former setup man recorded his first save as the new Los Angeles Angels closer in the series opener Monday, he made it 2-for-2 on Tuesday. Smith made the host’s two-run advantage in the ninth stand, securing a 6-4 victory that sent his former teammates to their fifth consecutive defeat.

After Monday’s 6-3 loss to the host Los Angeles Angels sent the free-falling Indians to their fourth consecutive loss, manager Terry Francona confirmed that right-hander Carlos Carrasco had been moved to the bullpen.

“That was can fortify our bullpen and get (Carrasco) on a roll,” Francona said.

He was the one guy the Indians had hoped to avoid over the next three days.

So wasn’t it just the struggling Tribe’s luck – or lack of luck - that they’d end up facing former teammate Joe Smith right from the start Monday in the first game of a three-game series at Angels Stadium?

Stephanie Storm’s 10 final thoughts about the Indians 4-1 loss to the Giants Sunday that led to a three-game Interleague Series sweep and marked the team’s seventh loss over the last 11 games.

1) Let’s start out with the one of the few positives of the day, because it’s the nice thing to do and quite honestly, the negatives are numerous. So, let’s start with Danny Salazar, who for the first time this year resembled the exciting pitcher he was last season as rookie.

Stephanie Storm’s 9 Final Thoughts from the Indians 5-3 loss to the host Giants Saturday at AT&T Park.

1) The Indians saw their hard-earned 3-0 lead dissipate in the blink of a four-run fifth inning Saturday afternoon, the visiting clubhouse at AT&T Park had the feel of a tomb after the game. Yet, it was understandable after having worked so hard to jump on Giants starter Tim Lincecum from the start, piece together three unanswered runs over the first five innings and chase the two-time Cy Young award winner from the game after just 4 2/3 innings, the feisty Tribe had nothing to show for it but another loss.

Zach McAllister started Saturday’s game in the same kind of cruise control mode he’d been in during his first three starts of the season – a dominating stretch in which he’d allowed just three earned runs over 19 2/3 innings and racking up 13 strikeouts compared to three walks.

But unlike his previous trio of appearances, McAllister ran into a traffic jam of Giants runners in the fifth inning Saturday that resulted in a four-run rally and eventual 5-3 loss as the Indians dropped their second consecutive Interleague game at AT&T Park.

Stephanie Storm’s 10 final thoughts from the Indians 5-1 loss to the host San Francisco Giants.

1) Indians starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco (0-3, 6.95 ERA) looked like two different pitchers Friday night in the Bay Area when he struggled early before settling in. Problem is, Carrasco allowed too much damage before finding his groove in allowing four runs over the first four innings – including a towering home run to Michael Morse in the fourth.

Carlos Carrasco’s struggles as an Indians starter surfaced again Friday night in San Francisco, as the embattled right-handed pitcher gave up four early runs before settling in on the mound at AT&T Park.

Problem is, the four runs were plenty enough to jump start the Giants to victory, who went on to win 5-1 in a chilly first game of the weekend’s three-game series.

Carlos Carrasco’s struggles as an Indians starter surfaced again Friday night in San Francisco, as the embattled right-handed pitcher gave up four early runs before settling in on the mound at AT&T Park.

Problem is, the four runs were plenty enough to jump start the Giants to victory, who went on to win 5-1 in a chilly first game of the weekend’s three-game series.

Editor's note: Correspondent August Fagerstrom wrote this article for FanGraphs.com. The embedded player links will take you to their FanGraphs player pages. There are a number of advanced statistics used as well.

Last season, Danny Salazar was among a wave of hard-throwing young pitchers that made electrifying debuts down the stretch, falling upon the national eye during the postseason.

Somewhere in a posh San Francisco hotel, Indians utility man Elliot Johnson woke up this morning to the news that Major League Baseball's Playing Rules Committee passed a new rule that provided “a clearer interpretation” of how umpires should determine their call when a player catches a ball for an out, but then accidentally drops it on the transfer from his glove to throwing hand.

Ten final thoughts for a 5-1 Indians win that, thanks to Corey Kluber, took only 2:15.

1. This was the Kluber was the Indians were waiting for all year. He was just about perfect Thursday—he pounded the strike zone, he induced a ton of ground balls. Had it not been for an error on Nick Swisher on a very easy play, it would have been a complete-game shutout. This was exactly what a Kluber outing is supposed to look like.

2. It was the first complete game of his career. After the game he couldn't even tell reporters when his last one was at any level. He's the first Indians pitcher to throw a complete game with at least 11 strikeouts and no walks or earned runs since Len Barker's perfect game in 1981.

3. Basically, you could argue that no Indians pitcher since May of 1981 has had an outing as efficient as Kluber's. Some have been better, but not more efficient.

4. Thursday is why Kluber is a SABR darling, among that crowd. He attacks the strike zone, doesn't walk anyone and gets ground balls.

Corey Kluber was dominant and the Indians’ bats put together the biggest inning offensively of the season in a 5-1 win over the Royals.

Kluber (2-2) threw a complete game (first in his career) and struck out a career-high 11 batters. He allowed only four hits. The Royals’ lone run was scored due to an error by Nick Swisher.

The Indians couldn’t do much off of Royals starter Bruce Chen (1-2) until the fifth inning. Carlos Santana opened the inning with a double, snapping an 0-for-16 slump. Michael Brantley then singled him home to give the Indians a 1-0 lead.

Ryan Raburn and Yan Gomes then walked and singled to load the bases for David Murphy, who poked a two-RBI single down the left-field line. Asdrubral Cabrera then brought two more runs home with a double, also down the left-field line, to give the Tribe a 5-0 advantage.

Ten final thoughts for the Indians' 5-3 win over the Royals Wednesday night.

1. Right now, the Indians have the best bullpen in baseball. The best. Tribe relievers have stranded a Major League-leading 91.4 percent (32 of 35) inherited runners this season. And John Axford has been lights-out, converting eight of nine save chances.

2. Francona said the reason behind Axford's success that he's been "really sticking" his fastball wherever he wants, which sets up his curveball.

3. Marc Rzepczynski and Cody Allen have both been rock solid. Then there's Bryan Shaw, who got a big out tonight in the seventh inning with two runners on base. Allen, by the way, has an ERA of 0.00. Rzepczynski's is below 1.00. There are night games to be played on the West Coast, but as of this tying Axford is leading the American League in saves.

4. Axford and David Murphy were the two big additions to the team and we're viewed by many fans as "home runs." They're off to a pretty good start together considering they weren't very expensive compared to the rest of the free agent class—Axford has been about as good as any closer in baseball and Murphy is second on the team in RBI while not playing every day.

Eight final thoughts for the roughly 8,000 fans that watched the Indians lose to the Royals 8-2.

1. Danny Salazar is not the Danny Salazar of old (last year). His ERA is now 7.85. He's 0-3. He was hit hard again Tuesday night. As soon as KC got through the order the first time, it was all systems go. But after the game, he revealed something that might be a reason for some of his struggles.

2. Salazar thinks he might be tipping his pitches, namely his change up (he had one crushed for a three-run home run by Mike Moustakas). He believes that sometimes when he throws his change up he tends to open up his glove a little more than normal, thus tipping off the batter.

3. If so, maybe it explains a little. But that's not the whole story. Not when you're almost giving up a run an inning six months after being one of the most electric pitchers in baseball.

4. Between Salazar and Carrasco, the Indians are waiting on two tons of potential. The question is how long can you afford to wait and still contend this year? The AL Central looks solid. The Indians are only 9-11 so it's nowhere near close time to worry. But there might be a decision-making timeline drawing nearer each week.

Notes: Salazar has struggled so far this season and isn't getting an favors having to face Shields, one of the best pitchers in the division. Two things to look for: his velocity, which according to Fangraphs.com is down to 93.6 mph from 95.9 last year; and manager Terry Francona said he's looking for Salazar to attack hitters today.

Santana is back in the lineup and at third base after getting the day off yesterday. Chisenhall is back to the No. 9 spot in the lineup. After his two errors yesterday, Chisenhall was out on the field early today taking grounders.

Ten final thoughts for the nine Indians players and one squirrel that were on the field for the Tribe's 4-3 win over the Royals.

1. That squirrel ran onto the field to a loud cheer from the crowd and caused a short delay. Nick Swisher tried to scoop him up with his glove. He said, in Nick Swisher fashion, “I was just inviting him over. I was like, ‘Hey, come on over here, sit in my glove, see what’s happening, maybe chill on my shoulder like a little parrot.’ Tell you what, that squirrel was eating, bro, that squirrel could eat, dude. That was a big squirrel."

2. It ran into right field and rested for a bit while play continued. Then it ran to short left field. Then back again, and then it made a return to another loud cheer. Four grounds crew members then herded it into the home bullpen. Some fans booed. The squirrel actually then climbed halfway up the bullpen wall.

3. Said John Axford, “I didn’t get to see him. I guess he just took off. Hopefully he’ll be back tomorrow so I get to say hi.”

4. So the squirrel is the celebrity. But the Indians played very well tonight. So here's how.

Notes: Carlos Santana is getting the day off. Manager Terry Francona said Santana has started to reach for some pitches, so he thought it'd be good if he could get a day of hitting work in without worrying about game situations.

Chisenhall is hitting cleanup because he's hitting so well and because it allows the lineup is stay in-tact outside of him replacing Santana.

Giambi also gets a start in his first game back since returing from the DL with a fractured rib.

The Indians on Monday activated designated hitter Jason Giambi from the 15-day disabled list and optioned reliever Blake Wood down to Triple-A Columbus, the team announced.

Giambi has been on the disabled list since March 30 with a fractured rib.

The Indians were using an eight-man bullpen, leaving Wood and C.C. Lee as the only real contenders to be optioned down when Giambi returned. Lee had an extra option over Wood but has also been much more reliable. Wood went 0-1 with a 7.11 ERA in seven outings.

The Indians on Monday announced a partnership with Verizon Wireless that will offer fans improved 4G wireless service at Progressive Field with a new Distributed Antenna System (DAS) and Wi-Fi network.

The DAS is an in-building network solution that boosts Verizon's high-speed 4G LTE network strength, enhances the ability to make calls or send text messages and ensures that thousands of fans can be on their smartphones at the same time.

“This implementation will significantly enhance fans’ digital experience at the ballpark by making social media and their favorite apps more easily accessible, as well as completing common functions like making a call or sending an email or text,” said Neil Weiss, the Indians Senior Vice President of Technology and Chief Information Officer, in a press release.

The Indians are also inviting fans to interact with their Twitter account (@Indians) during the game and check in on the "At The Ballpark" app, which this year will offer fans exclusive deals after "checking in."

Eight final thoughts for the Indians' 6-4 win over the Blue Jays on Easter Sunday.

1. A lot was made over the Indians giving $12 million over two years to David Murphy instead of $8 million for one year to Nelson Cruz. Murphy is now hitting .288 with two home runs and 15 RBI, and he came up with the huge hit today against a lefty. And, if not for Michael Brantley being so damn clutch, he'd be leading the team in RBI.

2. He's doing OK for himself, considering he's in a platoon with Raburn, who DH'd Sunday.

3. Brantley went 2-for-3 with a home run, a double and two RBI. All the guy does is produce. He leads the team with 16 RBI. After he and Murphy, Nick Swisher is in third with eight RBI.

4. Swisher didn't have a bad day, going 1-for-3 with an RBI. But he also struck out twice, and Carlos Santana struck out three times. Swisher, the team's No. 2 hitter, is hitting below .200. Santana, the cleanup hitter, is below .150. Those things will change, but question is how quickly and to what extent. The Indians can't go too long with no production from the heart of the order, even with Murphy and Brantley playing so well.

The Indians avoided the series sweep with a 6-4 win against the Toronto Blue Jays at Progressive Field Sunday afternoon.

Closer John Axford loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth inning against Edwin Encarnacion before getting him to ground out to Jason Kipnis in a shift to end the game.

Starter Carlos Carrasco threw 5 2/3 innings, allowing four earned runs and striking out five. He was perfect through three innings before allowing three runs in the fourth inning and another in the fifth.

The Indians, down 4-2 in the sixth inning, came back when Blue Jays reliever Aaron Loup walked the bases loaded and David Murphy emptied them with a three-RBI double down the left-field line to take a 5-4 lead. In the seventh inning, Nick Swisher extended that lead with a sacrifice fly to right field to score Lonnie Chisenhall.

Michael Brantley finished the game 2-for-3 with a home run, a double and two RBI.

Notes: The Indians try to hold off a series sweep for Easter. And it's a big day for Carrasco.

The Indians have seemed intent to give him a chance to figure things out at the major league level, but if he continues to struggle and Bauer continues to pitch as well as he has at Triple-A Columbus, that leash might be getting shorter. Today is a big chance for him to show he's taking strides in the right direction.

Yesterday Carrasco talked about the need to pitch deeper into games. So we'll see how long he can last today.

Fourteen final thoughts as I write about baseball and watch hockey. As of this typing, the Blue Jackets are down 3-2 entering the third intermission. Twenty minutes to go.

1. We talked to Nick Swisher before and after the game today. Both times, he essentially said that everything's fine, it's going to be fine, nobody's worried. He's not happy with the 7-10 start, but he's also not worried in the least.

2. The Indians did start 5-10 last year, and they're 7-10 this year.

3. Some positives of that number: Swisher, Carlos Santana, Jason Kipnis and Asdrubal Cabrera all have batting averages below .250 right now. On most days, that's your No. 2, No. 3, No. 4 and No. 6 hitters. Only missing from the top six in the lineup is Michael Bourn, who is just returning from a hamstring injury, and Michael Brantley, who's played very well.

4. Another positive is that the Indians have played uncharacteristically bad defense. Last season the Indians were 10th in the American League in fielding percentage (.983) and 11th in errors (98), which means they weren't very good, but not terrible, either. This year, they're about tied with Oakland as being the worst defensive fielding team in the AL thus far with a .974 fielding percentage and 16 errors, tied with the A's for the most. The Indians also have three passed balls, more than Oakland.

Here's nine final thoughts, in honor of baseball, for a game that was just so "baseball." And also a 3-2 loss for the Tribe.

1. Justin Masterson upped his velocity a bit today, regularly hitting 92 on his fastball. It's still slower than his 93-mph average from last year, but it's faster than where he's been. He said a few weeks ago he was taking off a bit for better control/movement, but was hit hard twice and it looks like he's amping things up a bit again.

2. Marc Rzepczynski and Cody Allen have been terrific this season, and in fact their numbers are still solid after tonight. But, sometimes, it's baseball and those things happen every now and then. Masterson said those guys will go out tomorrow and close the door, like always.

3. Carlos Santana entered the game in a 1-for-28 slump. He then started the game 0-for-2 to extended it to 1-for-30. The second at-bat ended with him popping straight up and slamming his bat on the ground. So of course, as baseball goes, he cranked a two-run HR in his next at-bat. He then struck out in another big situation in the seventh and walked in a bigger sitaution in the ninth. So it's a mixed bag. He also hesitated on a dribbler hit to him at third. Whatever's going on needs to be corrected if he has plans of staying in the No. 4 spot. He's getting on base, but not much else. Perhaps tonight was the first step in the right direction.

4. And, as baseball goes, Michael Brantley then came up short in the seventh and ninth innings with runners in scoring position. Brantley has been one of baseball's best hitters in those situations, so of course in one night he doesn't come through twice.

Lonnie Chisenhall led off the bottom of the ninth with a double. Bourn and Swisher then struck out before Kipnis and Santana walked to load the bases for Brantley with two outs. He grounded out to first base to end the game.

Through eight innings: Blue Jays 3, Indians 2

The Indians' bullpen and defense gave the lead right back to Toronto.

With a runner on first and one out, Marc Rzepczynski came on for Masterson (6 1/3, six hits, two ER, 9 Ks), and allowed singles to both hitters he faced, including the game-tying hit to Munenori Kawasaki.

Notes: In the past two seasons, Masterson has gone 2-0 with a 1.30 ERA against the Blue Jays in four starts. It'll also be interesting to see where Masterson lands on the radar gun tonight. Last year he was averaging 93 mph with his fastball and hitting 96. This year, he said he's been taking a bit off, trading velocity for better location and on his sinker, better movement. It worked in his first outing against Oakland but he's been hit hard in his two starts since. That's something to watch tonight.

Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis was ejected at the end of the third inning of the Tribe’s game against the Detroit Tigers in Comerica Park Thursday afternoon after striking out with the bases loaded.

It was the first career ejection for Kipnis, who was replaced by Mike Aviles.

Wednesday's 3-2 Indians victory marked the first time the Tribe beat Detroit with four runs or fewer since Sept. 5, 2005, a 2-0 shutout at Comerica Park. In between, the Indians had lost 30 consecutive games to the Tigers when they scored fewer than four runs and fewer than six hits. The Indians produced five hits Wednesday.

The Indians recorded their first one-run victory of the season Wednesday. In the past three seasons, the Indians owned the best record in the major leagues at 55-31 (.640), besting Atlanta (.626) and Oakland (.598).

Sixteen final thoughts after the Indians take the first of 19 games against the Tigers this season.

1. Zach McAllister earned the distinction of being the most impressive Indians starter in terms of putting back-to-back games together. In the first half of a home doubleheader against the Padres on April 8, McAllister gave up no runs on five hits in 7.2 innings and struck out seven in a 2-0 Tribe victory. On Wednesday, McAllister (2-0, 2.04) went six innings and gave up one run on four hits, striking out four and walking two against the Tigers at Comerica Park.

Indians center fielder Michael Bourn will play his first game since straining his left hamstring March 16 in a split-squad spring training game against the Giants. Bourn was activated from the disabled list Tuesday.

Indians third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall will see his first action since April 8 against the San Diego Padres. Chisenhall missed three of the four games in Chicago against the White Sox. He spent Thursday through Saturday on paternity leave. He rejoined the team Sunday, but did not play.

To honor 20 years of Progressive/Jacobs Field, the Cleveland Indians launched a website this week celebrating their stadiumn.

The site, which is online at Indians.com/ProgressiveField, features an interactive timeline and a compilation of the stadium's firsts. Longtime announcer Tom Hamilton also lists his top 10 moments in the stadium's history.

Fourteen final thoughts after a top-of-the-ninth rally turned into a buzz-killing loss at U.S. Cellular Field.

1. John Axford was sitting at his locker in a T-shirt and shorts, postponing his shower as he waited to talk. The new Indians closer had just blown his first save of the season in five chances and he he knew he needed to show accountability. If the measure of a man is what he does when he fails, not when he succeeds, Axford past his first test.

Twelve final thoughts for the Indians’ season-high 12 runs, their most since Sept. 27 at Minnesota.

1. After Danny Salazar and Carlos Carrasco lasted just 3.2 and 4.2 innings, respectively, in the first two games of the series, Indians manager Terry Francona expected Justin Masterson to live up to his responsibility as the team’s ace and save an overworked bullpen. That was not to be the case. Masterson became the third starter of the series not to finish the fifth inning and the sixth in the Indians’ 12 games. It’s a disturbing statistic, to say the least, even though Francona doesn’t believe trends can be established in such a short span.

Seventeen final thoughts after another Tribe starter fails to make it through the fifth inning against the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field.

1. Indians manager Terry Francona thought the turning point of the game came in the bottom of the fifth after the Tribe had rallied with three runs to tie the score in the top of the inning. That’s when he needed starter Carlos Carrasco and reliever Marc Rzepczynski to hold the White Sox scoreless. Instead they issued four walks, two by each pitcher, and the White Sox turned them, along with an RBI single by Conor Gillaspie, into two runs.

2. “That’s a big inning,” Francona said. “When you score and tie it up you’ve got to go back out and kind of take charge of the game and they just kept scoring every inning.” The White Sox scored at least one run every inning starting in the third.

3. Carrasco lasted just 4.2 innings and said he was tired in the fourth and fifth. No one was sure why, although he said he was battling to keep his arm higher, an off-season change in his delivery. Apparently that wore him out. “Carlos in the fifth slowed down his tempo,” Francona said. “You could tell he was fighting through some of his mechanics.”

Fifteen final thoughts after Danny Salazar writes another chapter in what the Indians hope is a best-seller.

1. Before the game ended, I wondered what would distress manager Terry Francona more about starting pitcher Salazar – the fact that he’s given up three home runs in 9.1 innings this year, or that he lasted just 3.2 innings against the White Sox.

As the Indians begin a four-game series in Chicago tonight against the White Sox, infielder Lonnie Chisenhall remained in Cleveland with his wife Meredith for the birth of their second son, Cannon, on Thursday.

Infielder Justin Sellers was called up from Triple-A Columbus to replace Chisenhall, who is expected to join the Tribe Sunday, manager Terry Francona said.

Stephanie Storm’s 12 final thoughts on the Indians doubleheader split with the San Diego Padres Wednesday at Progressive Field:

1) It’s impossible not to be encouraged by the pitching of a pair of the Tribe’s young right-handers Wednesday in Zach McAllister and Trevor Bauer. Probably more so Bauer, given his inconsistent track record in his first season with the Indians last year. McAllister tossed 7 2/3 scoreless innings and struck out seven in the Indians 2-0 Game One victory.

Sidelined since the end of spring training with a left hamstring injury, Michael Bourn said he felt good recently while playing a couple games at Triple-A Columbus at the start of his rehab assignment. Now, his final test before being activated is to play in back-to-back rehab games at Akron Thursday and Friday.

Asked if he were anxious to return, Bourn admitted he was. At the same time, he said he understands why patience with the same hamstring that required surgery in the off season (albeit in a different area) is the smarter choice.

Trevor Bauer followed the lead of teammate Zach McAllister and gave the Indians a strong start on the mound Tuesday, striking out a major league career-high eight batters over six innings.

Unlike McAllister, the young right-hander didn’t pick up the win, as the Indians followed up their 2-0 victory over the San Diego Padres in the first game Wednesday with a 2-1 loss in the second in a doubleheader split at Progressive Field.

The Indians (4-3) host the San Diego Padres (2-6) today at Progressive Field for a traditional doubleheader beginning at 12:05 p.m. The Indians won the first game 2-0 thanks to 7 2/3 scoreless innings by starter Zach McAllister and a two-run home run by Jason Kipnis. Here are the lineups for the second game:

From the very first pitch a little after noon Wednesday, Zach McAllister was in the zone against the San Diego Padres.

It was the first game of the Indians doubleheader at a sunny but still chilly Progressive Field, the start of a guaranteed long day with at least 18 innings in store. Add the fact that it was a getaway day no less, with the Tribe headed to Chicago afterwards to begin a series against the White Sox Thursday.

The Indians (3-3) host the San Diego Padres (2-5) today at Progressive Field for a traditional double header beginning at 12:05 p.m. Here are the lineups and a few pre-game notes before the first game.

Eight final thoughts for the eight runs it took for the Tribe to beat the Padres tonight.

1. It's pretty surprising "this" is being said about "this" player, but in many respects Nyjer Morgan really has his head on straight. Yes, there's the Tony Plush business. But he also said tonight, in a moment when he could have played himself up following another great game, that he's just "holding down the fort" until Bourn returns. He gets it. He also said he feels comfortable because he knows what type of player he is, so he's a guy who understands his role on this team fully.

2. He first joked that he hopes his Plush persona stays on vacation. But then he later joked that he's around and made a hushing motion. So, buckle your seatbelts.

3. From the top of the order to the bottom, this team can hit. David Murphy went 2-for-3 tonight with a home run and four RBI, and he did it from the No. 9 position in the lineup. Yan Gomes, from the No. 8 slot, went 2-for-3 with a double. Lonnie Chisenhall, hitting seventh, "only" went 1-for-4 and he also had two hard-hit outs. Murphy was awful this spring but said he felt something the other day in the cage and it's carried over to his last two games.

4. This team continues to get to pitchers becaues it doesn't offer any kind of a break in the lineup. Jason Kipnis talked yesterday about how he loves that, and how other clubs around the league love the Indians' lineup for that. Having the .330-hitting, 45-home-run-bopper in the middle of the order is much sexier. But if the Indians' No. 8 and No. 9 hitters are hitting half this good for the season, the Tribe offense will be just fine even without a Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder, etc.

Vinnie Pestano's troubles continued. He gave up a monster home run in the ninth inning to Xavier Nady and then gave up a triple and a single, as the Padres made it 8-6 and brought the tying run to the plate.

John Axford came on to record the final out.

Through six innings: Indians 8, Padres 3

Jedd Gyorko drove in his third run of the game with a single to left field to score Will Venable, who doubled, to make it 6-3.

Indians pitcher Trevor Bauer will come up from Columbus to start the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader, according to manager Terry Francona.

He's already been seen in the Indians clubhouse.

In four starts last season, Bauer went 1-2 with a 5.29 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 17 innings pitched.

Since it's a doubleheader, the Indians and Padres can extend their active rosters to 26 players. And since the Indians play two games Wednesday and then play four consecutive days in Chicago, a spot start is needed.

Nine final thoughts for a lineup that's been producing from nine spots (See Nos. 7-8 below), and a 10-7 loss to the Twins.

1. Pretty much everything Justin Masterson does this season will come with "$17 million" in the back of everyone's mind. In the season opening loss, it looked like that might be a bargain. Today, you'd think it'd be a massive mistake.

2. Manager Terry Francona said after the game that they don't give up on guys on April 6. He was more-so talking about the whole rotation, but that's a good reminder that this is a long season. Masterson's next 30 starts will all likely fall in the middle of his first start and today. Said Francona, "Not saying we don't want to do better, but I think you can rush to judgment and miss out on some really good players."

3. David Murphy went 4-for-5, which is good to sign. Fans don't tend to love him because he doesn't look like an American League right fielder. He looks like a left fielder in the National League hitting .270 slapping balls to the opposite field. He turned on several pitches today and tied the game 6-6 before the Twins got to Blake Wood.

4. On the Gomes error, Francona said he was trying to rush, but it's easy to say that now. Either Kipnis or Aviles probably should have gotten over there, but Gomes also shouldn't have fired until that happened. Either way, a bad result.

Here are 10 final thoughts for the 10 fingers and toes many of you froze off today to root for the Indians, who lost 7-3 to the Twins.

1. First thought: It was cold, even in the first row of the press box. People call baseball games "cold" when it's 55. It felt like below-freezing for parts of the day, and it was windy. For those who braved that, bravo. You earned your stripes.

2. As for the game, it looked bleak—literally—two pitches in, after Brian Dozier took Carlos Carrasco deep for a solo shot. Truth be told, I was actually still in the media dining room finishing a quick dinner and watching on TV when it happened. Things went downhill and the Tribe was quickly down 3-0 and then 5-0 after three innings.

3. It would take a lot of adult beverages to make ya feel better on a day like Saturday, trailing the whole game and freezing. From the sounds of a couple fans behind home plate, many of you decided to test that number.

4. The Indians, and especially manager Terry Francona, seem to want to give Carrasco every opportunity to flourish. Francona before the game said he wanted Carrasco to take the opportunity he's been given and "run with it."

Bourn was scheduled to start with Triple-A Columbus Friday night, but precaution ruled with damp and wet conditions keeping the veteran from participating. Bourn, who started the season on the disabled list after injuring his left hamstring in spring training, was slated to play in one of Saturday’s games of a Clippers’ doubleheader.

Aside from a two-plus hour rain delay, a long cold, damp day and a constant, bone-chilling wind, the Indians turned a long day at Progressive Field into a memorable home opener Friday.

Here’s some Final Thoughts (in chronological order) on a day that began with another long-term contract extension for a young player, featured a come-from-behind victory and ended with an early candidate for Quote of the Season by a charasmatic veteran.

The Indians’ return from Oakland after Wednesday’s day-night doubleheader against the A’s was delayed two hours by mechanical issues with their aircraft. The Tribe ended up busing from the O.co Coliseum to San Francisco International Airport instead of flying out of Oakland as scheduled and didn’t depart until 4 a.m. EDT.

The Indians gave second baseman Jason Kipnis a belated birthday gift to remember Friday morning, annoucing his contract extension with the press release below. Check back a little later today for more reaction, as Kipnis and Indians General Manager Chris Antonetti have a morning press conference scheduled.

The Indians signed second baseman Jason Kipnis to a six-year contract extension thru the 2019 season with a club option for 2020.

Twenty-four final thoughts after what seemed like 24 hours at O.co Coliseum for a day-night doubleheader.

1. Indians outfielder Michael Brantley found redemption in the ninth inning of Wednesday’s second game after a costly and rare error two innings earlier and his teammates were genuinely happy for him. With one out and the bases loaded, Brantley lashed a single into right field that got by Josh Reddick for an error, allowing Ryan Raburn and Jason Kipnis to score to give the Indians a 5-4 lead. (David Murphy’s sacrifice fly to center brought home an insurance run.)

OAKLAND, Calif.: Scott Kazmir shut out his former team into the eighth inning in his Oakland debut, and the Athletics beat the Cleveland Indians 6-1 in the first game of a day-night doubleheader on Wednesday.

The Indians’ game against the A’s scheduled for 10:05 p.m. EDT Tuesday was postponed at 8:36 p.m. The two teams will play a day-night doubleheader Wednesday at 3:35 and 9:05 p.m. EDT.

It marked the first rainout at O.co Coliseum since May 5, 1998 vs. Detroit. This is the earliest the A’s ever had such a postponement; the previous was April 3, 1998 against the Yankees. It was the 19th game at the Coliseum called by rain, including playoffs.